* my two-cents *
 
Reproductions or replicas have a place.
It would be snobbery to assume only the original can teach or impart
information to a viewer/listener.  If you are looking at a great photograph
of a painting it is just that - a great photograph.  It will convey as much
information as the medium allows and it will satisfy to the limits of the
audience.
 
Recently I saw a Yamaha player piano which could strike the key(s)
with over 100 various pressures (not like the music box sound of an old player
piano).  A "real" person played a piece and the piano "reproduced" that
performance, even the errors - it was wonderful.  Imagine having this
performance quality (the best of the medium - being the piano) reproducing
the performance of musicians which many of us will never hear in person.
It's a great sound, still a reproduction, but nonetheless a valuable,
informative product.
 
(Of course, I'll need to win the lottery to get one of these.)
Happy New Year!